The Physics of the Mad Hatter

The Mad Hatter represents the concept of time. The concept of time is a prominent motif throughout the entire novel, as the Mad Hatter explains, “For instance, suppose it were nine o’clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons: you’d only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling! Half-past one, time for dinner”. The personification of time leads to the implication that it is just as easily manipulated as the other living creatures in Wonderland.

This leads me into the belief that the scientific and mathematical brain of Lewis Carroll understood time as recent physicists understand it. They now believe that time can be manipulated, stretched and twisted, to serve a bigger purpose. To be honest, it is fully believable. If you’ve ever sat through an eight hour work day and compare that to an eight hour block of time in your favorite place, you soon realize that time does not tick by in the same fashion.